Fire extinguisher



Patented July-4, 1922.

3 $HEETSSHEET I E5.Ml TCHELL INVENTOR ATTORNE! H. S MITCHELL.

FIRE EXTINGUISHEB. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, I920.

3SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR WITNESS' ATTORNEY Patented July 4, 1922.

H. S. MITCHELL.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, I920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I 75 H 5, [*f/ TCHEL L INVENTOR WITNESS:

ATTORNEY Patented July 4, 1922. v

E ATENT @FFIQE.

HOWARD S. MITCHELL, O1 HOMER, LOUISIANA.

FIB-E EXTINGUISHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'July a, 1922.

Application filed June 25, 1920. Serial No. 391,592.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HowAnn S. MrroHnLL, a citizen of United States, residing at Homer, in the parish of Claiborne and State of Louisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fire, Extinguishers, of

, which the following is a specification.

This invention "relates to fire extinguishers, and comprehends the provision of a device of this character, which is primarily designed for use in conjunction with oil storage tanks or the like, having gas vents.

The invention embodies amongst other features a spring actuated valve which controls communication between the storage tank and the atmosphere through the gas vent, and means for normally holding the valveopened, the means being of the character to automatically release the valve incident to theigniting of the gas by lightning or any other cause, .thus permitting the valve to close and smother thefiame.

The nature and advantages of the invention will bebetter understood when the following detail description is taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming-part of this application like numerals of reference inclicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a storage tank' as showing the fire extinguisher associated therewith.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through Figure 1 showing the valve in opened position.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the closed position of the valve.

Figure 4: is a top plan view.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view, through the device.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing theinactive position of the keeper.

Figure 7 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken through the keeper and valve stem with the parts arranged in the manner illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure -'8 is a bottom plan view.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10

indicates an oil storage tank or the like,

having a gas vent 11, the fire extinguisher forming the subject matter of this invention -being indicated generally at A.

The fire extinguisher embodies a cylindrlcal casing 12 which is open at both ends and eXteriorly threaded as at 13 to accommodate itself to the gas vent of the tank shown. This casing, may be of any suitable dimensions and has secured to the inside thereof a ring 14 constituting a valve seat. The valve is indicated at 15 and is pivoted within the casing 12 immediately adjacent the valve seat 14:. As when in this specific instance, and clearly illustrated in Figure 7, the underside of the valve 15 has secured thereto a plate 17 having a hook like extremity 18 which is fitted about a pivot bolt 19 and is then suitably secured to the casing 12. While this provides for the pivotal movement of the valve, the valve may be mounted in any suitable manner for the same purpose. Rising from the opposite side of the valve is a projection 20, the latter being bifurcated as shown and defining spaced lugs 21 between which the valve stem 22 is pivotally mounted. This valve stem is of substantially rectangular formation throughout the major portion of its length, but is also provided with a cylindrical portion 22 which operates through an opening centrally of the hood 23, the latter constituting a guide for the valve stem. The hood 23 is supported upon the casing an appreciable distance above the upper end thereof, through the instrumentality of standards 2st which are terminally secured to the casing 12 in the hood in any suitable manner. Encircling the cylindrical portion of the valve stem, is a coiled spring 25 which has one end bearing against the nut 26 associated with the said stem, the opposite end bearing against the hood 23. This spring 25 functions to automatically move the valve to its closed position in a manner to be hereinafter described. The valve stem 22 is also provided at a point in its length with an opening 27.

Secured to the inner side of the casing 12,

is a metallic strap at 28, the latter being vertically disposed within the casing, and terminating to provide a portion arranged across the casing at one side and in close proximity to the valve stem. This portion 29 is arranged at a right angle to the vertically disposed portion 28, and supports the chamber at 30 for the reception of an explosive. The port-ion 29 is also provided minally fitted a pin 3a of any suitable material. The keeper 32 also carriesa lug at which is received within the chamber 30,

forming a- .closure for the latter when the keeper is inactive position.

In practice, the valve stem 22 is depressed against'fthetension of the spring 25, until the opening 27 of the stem is brought into horizontal alinement with the opening 31 of the said strap 28. Vi ith the partsthus positioned, the valve is opened as shown in Figure 2, the valve being held opened when the keeper32 is swung to anactive position, positioning the pin 34 in said alined openings. Before setting the fire extinguisher in the manner just stated, an explosive of any suitable character is positioned in the chamber 30. With the parts thus arranged, communication between-the storage tank and f the, atmosphere is established through the ventopening 11 of the tank, and should the gasescaping from the tank be ignited by lightning or in any other manner, the'fiam'e at the proper time would ignite the charge ofexplosive in the chamber 30, thereby forcing the keeper at 32 out of association with the valve stem, and allowing the spring 25 to automatically move the valve-to a closed position. This obviously would smother the flame within the tank 10. Shouldfor any reason, the explosive charge fail to ignite,

the flame would melt the retaining pin 34;, which lsmade of fusible material, thus effoot ng a release of the valve stem irom the V keeper 32 and allowing the spring to function in the manner just stated. The hood 23 in addition to providing a guide for the valve ste1n,serves to confine the flameand the heat therefrom within the area of the explosive chamber at 30 and the pin 3i so that these parts will be eifected in quick order, with a resultant release of the valve stem and the closing of the valve.

' Mounted upon the hood 23 is a bracket 36, and pivoted upon this bracket as at 37. is an indicator of angular formation. This in dicator is shownat 38, and when the apparatus is set for use, the indicator assumes a horizontal position as shown. One end of the indicator overlies the adjacent end of the valve stem, and when the valve moves from its opened to its closed position, the indica tor is caused to assume a vertical position as shown in Figure 3. By reason of the indicator, which can be readily determined at a distance from the tank whetherthe valve is in its opened or closed position; The apparatus is not only simple in its constructiton,

butis positive in its operation for the purpose lntended.

While it is believed that from the foregof ing description, the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that I- do not limit myself to the detailsherein shown and described, inasinuchas the same is merely illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention, and that such changes may be scope of what is claimed,

Whatlclaim is: 7 1. The combination with a storage tank havinga vent opening, Oran ap p aratusrof the character described comprising a casing iitted in said opening,- an annulus arranged within the casing and'constituting a' valve seat, standards projecting from the casing, a hood supported by the standards above and in spaced relation to, the casing, a normally opened valve arranged within the casing and including a valve; stem slidably mounted through an opening in said hood, explosivemeans for holding said valve opened and explosive means actuated at a predetermined temperature for effecting a release of the valve, and means for automatlcallyclosing the valvesubsequent to itsreleasejv resorted to when desired asfall within the V The combination, with :a storage tank having a vent opening, of an apparatus of the character described.comprising a casing fitted in said open1ng,,a normally opened valve arranged within the casingand including a valve stem, means for holding said valve in opened, posititon, a member are ranged across the top of'said casing an exf plosive chamber supported by sa'id member and adapted to receive an explosive charge, said means for holdingthe valve opened in-f eluding a pivoted latch element adapted to be arranged in parallelism with said member, alug carried by said element for closing the explosive chamber, said explosive being, actuated to eilect the release of said valve, and means for automatically "closing the valve subsequent tofits release. I v

3. The combination with astorage tank having'a vent opening, of an apparatus of the character described comprising a casing fitted in said opening, wainormally,opened valve arranged within the casing ,andJin-QZ V cludinga valve stem having an opening therein, a member secured; to the casing and extended across the topthereof, said mem her having an opening, an explosive chamber supported by said member and-adapted to receive a charge of explosive, a pivotedlatch element associated with said member and adapted to be arranged in parallelism therewith, said element having an opening adapted to register with the aforementioned opening, a fusible pin adapted to be passed through said openings for holding the valve in an open position, a plug carried by said element for closing said explosive chamber, said explosive when ignited effecting the release of said valve, and means for automatically closing the valve subsequent to its release.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HOWARD S. MITCHELL. 

